Shloka 21

अध्याय १८४ — भैक्षविभागः, शयनविधानम्, धृष्टद्युम्नस्य निवेदनम्

Alms Distribution, Night Lodging, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s Report

Devanagari script

सत्रग्दामसमवच्छन्नैरगुरूत्तमवासितै: । हंसांशुवर्णर्बहुभिरायोजनसुगन्धिभि:,अनेक प्रकारकी मालाएँ और हार उन भवनोंकी शोभा बढ़ा रहे थे। अगुरुकी सुगन्ध छा रही थी। वे हंस और चन्द्रमाकी किरणोंके समान श्वेत दिखायी देते थे। उनके भीतरसे निकली हुई धूपकी सुगन्ध चारों ओर एक योजनतक फैल रही थी

Transliteration

sragdāmasamavacchannair agurūttamavāsitaiḥ | haṃsāṃśuvarṇair bahubhir āyojanasugandhibhiḥ ||

Translation

毗舍摩耶那说道：殿堂之中遍覆诸多花环与花饰项链，又以最上等沉香（agaru）薰染，芬芳馥郁。其色洁白如天鹅、如月华，愈发增添楼阁的光彩；而自内升起的香烟之气，四散弥漫，远及一由旬。

Word by Word

स्रग्दामसमवच्छन्नैःcovered/overlaid with garlands and necklaces

अगुरूत्तमवासितैःperfumed with excellent agaru

हंसांशुवर्णैःhaving the color of swans and moonbeams (i.e., very white)

बहुभिःwith many

आयोजनसुगन्धिभिःfragrant for a yojana’s distance

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

garlands (srag)

festoon/necklaces (dāma)

agaru (aloeswood incense/perfume)

swans (haṃsa)

moon-rays (aṃśu)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights auspicious hospitality and cultured refinement: beauty, cleanliness, and sacred fragrance are presented as outward signs of prosperity and proper reception, aligning with dharmic ideals of honoring guests and maintaining sanctified spaces.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a splendid interior setting—buildings adorned with many white garlands and festoons, richly scented with agaru incense—whose fragrance spreads far, emphasizing the grandeur and auspicious atmosphere of the place.